Drag Issue

I recently picked up a Daiwa Sealine 50H in near-mint condition. It sat in someone's garage untouched for years. The only issue was that the drag was cranked down all the way for those years, and so the particle-board or whatever-fiber washers were totally kaput.

Inspired by this post (http://alantani.com/index.php?topic=18.0) I ordered the recommended set of carbontex washers from smoothdrag. I put it together exactly as instructed on site, but can't generate more than 10lbs of drag (tested with a weight). The drag washers came very, very lightly greased in drag-grease, which I tried my best to remove. I've taken it apart and put back together several times now and cannot for the life of me figure out why it won't generate more drag strength. I know it's put together correctly - everything works as it should, and the drag washers are in the correct order (as seen here in the 3-drag stack) - http://www.smoothdrag.com/installation.html

Any and all advice offered on the subject would be greatly appreciated. I've got some experience with working on spinning reels, but never really tried to get inside the guts of conventional reels before.

Hmm... Have you tried putting the drag washers in another configuration.
So instead of )) or (( try () or )(. Or you may need new drag washers because they've been completely smashed flat.

Also. If you're testing with a weight instead of a scale, or on a rod; your test may be off. Plus, a reel generates less drag pressure when the spool is full compared to being empty.

Hmm... Have you tried putting the drag washers in another configuration.
So instead of )) or (( try () or )(. Or you may need new drag washers because they've been completely smashed flat.
+1

If the reel was that tightly cranked down, I would really look at the concave washers.

Wobbler

I had a feeling those concave washers were gonna give me issues.

 I knew about the " )) or (( try () or )(", with () being the correct order. I tried that, and all other possible configurations, to no avail. BUT - the washers aren't even really in a C shape at all. They both have more of an "S" curve configuration. I don't know if that's original design, or how they warped over time.

Another suggestion from someone else - the carbontex washers may be a different thickness than the original particle-board ones. So just because SmoothDrag sold me a "reel-specific" kit for my 50H, that's no guarantee they're the right-sized carbontex. Hmmm...

I don't believe the metal drag washers should be bent in any way.  The idea of those drag washers is so that they have as much surface area contact with the carbon drag washers as possible.  Check with the reel schematic, but if those metal washers that are stacked with the carbon drag washers are bent, you should probably replace them if you want to get back to the rated drag for the reel.

I don't believe the metal drag washers should be bent in any way.  The idea of those drag washers is so that they have as much surface area contact with the carbon drag washers as possible.  Check with the reel schematic, but if those metal washers that are stacked with the carbon drag washers are bent, you should probably replace them if you want to get back to the rated drag for the reel.

Depends on the model and maker. Abu star drag metal washers are bent and must be in the correct orientation for the reel to reelize (see what I did there!) its full drag potential.

sorry. i'm not doing great at terminology here. the drag washers underneath the handle and it's assembly are smooth and un-bent (parts 40, 42-45)

the "C" shaped washers are supposed to be, well, "C" shaped...or at least curved to some extent. (parts 47).

http://www.daiwa.com/Documents/PartsDiagram/50H.pdf

sorry. i'm not doing great at terminology here. the drag washers underneath the handle and it's assembly are smooth and un-bent (parts 40, 42-45)

the "C" shaped washers are supposed to be, well, "C" shaped...or at least curved to some extent. (parts 47).

http://www.daiwa.com/Documents/PartsDiagram/50H.pdf

Ah yes, those are supposed to be bent.  And in the () orientation too if I'm not mistaken.

sorry. i'm not doing great at terminology here. the drag washers underneath the handle and it's assembly are smooth and un-bent (parts 40, 42-45)

the "C" shaped washers are supposed to be, well, "C" shaped...or at least curved to some extent. (parts 47).

http://www.daiwa.com/Documents/PartsDiagram/50H.pdf

Yes, the "C" shaped washers are drag spring washers, while the flat washers are the actual drag washers.  The drag spring washers are there to apply an even and uniform pressure on the drag washers as you down the drag and to give you a larger range of drag adjustment options.   Without them, you pretty much have two drag settings...full drag and no drag.

I recently picked up a Daiwa Sealine 50H in near-mint condition. It sat in someone's garage untouched for years. The only issue was that the drag was cranked down all the way for those years, and so the particle-board or whatever-fiber washers were totally kaput.

Inspired by this post (http://alantani.com/index.php?topic=18.0) I ordered the recommended set of carbontex washers from smoothdrag. I put it together exactly as instructed on site, but can't generate more than 10lbs of drag (tested with a weight). The drag washers came very, very lightly greased in drag-grease, which I tried my best to remove. I've taken it apart and put back together several times now and cannot for the life of me figure out why it won't generate more drag strength. I know it's put together correctly - everything works as it should, and the drag washers are in the correct order (as seen here in the 3-drag stack) - http://www.smoothdrag.com/installation.html

Any and all advice offered on the subject would be greatly appreciated. I've got some experience with working on spinning reels, but never really tried to get inside the guts of conventional reels before.

Go back and read the followup comments in that link you posted from Alan Tani.  Squirmypug had to get an additional washer (#6-855) shipped to him from Alan to take his reel maxing out at 9lbs back up to 15lbs of drag.   This might be your same issue? 

It appears the issue may be two-fold:

1. The stock fiber washers stacked up measure 4.5mm. The carbontex washers sent by SmoothDrag are not nearly as thick (maybe 3mm or so). I spoke with them over the phone and they'll be sending a custom-cut 4.5mm stack of 3 carbontex washers as a replacement. So that's one definite problem that could resolve the issue, at least in part.

2.  the drag spring washers. Mine are more "S" than "C" shaped. I don't know whether they're currently the correct shape, or have been warped by time and the previous owner having cranked the drag down and put the reel away for years. I tried calling Daiwa but haven't been able to get anyone on the line, and the schematics sheet isn't detailed enough to draw any conclusions. Does anyone here happen to know what shape these drag-spring washers are supposed to be?

Just spoke w/ Daiwa - "Yup, those are supposed to be C-shaped. We'll send some out to you free of charge." Not bad!

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